Which full ATX Nforce2 mobo with IGP to go with Barton 2500+?

[theplanb]

Hey.
My dad finally decided that he needs to upgrade his P233 notebook, but this time to a PC.
I've glimpsed some options that I can take, and I think Athlon 2500+ can be very good value when coupled with nforce2 mobo with integrated video and graphics. But which one?

I don't wanna get micro ATX.. (they are not that cheap anyway..)
SATA is not a must, but can be nice to have.. umm.. would like to get one with reasonable integrated sound and graphics.
Don't need firewire.. but USB2 seems like a must have for the future sake.
Ok.. what else..
Well, I would luv to get a wi-fi feature integrated.. but no mobo I've seen comes with them..
well I think that's about it then

 

[Bonesdad]

why not a micro ATX? Got something against small? The Shuttle MN31N is a great nicely featured micro board...and is quite a bit cheaper than any in the link that follows.

Check THIS link to newegg.com for all NForce2 (IGP) mobos. Have fun

 

[DAPUNISHER]

For a non-overclocking board the MN31N is sweet and has the MCP-T and dual VGA. If you prefer ATX and think overclocking might take place at some point get the Soltek SL-75MRN-L, I've been using this board for quite a while now and it's a jewel. meets the requirements except SATA and overclocks quite well with all the options available in the bios. When I used the IGP on it I had it running 11.5x200=2.3ghz 400DDR dual channel synch mode thanks to the vdd chipset adjustment being present in the bios and could even use coolbits to overclock the core to 260mhz+ scoring over 6000 in 3Dmock2k1. I have a special power user's BIOS for it that I can send you also If you want a full feature from IEEE1394 through Soundstorm, and even TV out then the LEADTEK K7NCR18G-PRO II is very nice.

 

[crapito]

Originally posted by: Bonesdad
Check THIS link to newegg.com for all NForce2 (IGP) mobos. Have fun

here's the correct link to Newegg's nforce2 IGP motherboards.

i have a MSI K7N2-ISLR nforce2 IGP motherboard ($117 shipped @ Newegg) that i would definitely recommend to the average user. it comes with a lot of features, including tv-out and Soundstorm (which is why i use it for my HTPC). it also has very user friendly software, such as driver and BIOS updates in WinXP. doesn't overclock as well as my Asus A7N8X-Deluxe, but i doubt your dad will care.

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: crapito

Originally posted by: Bonesdad
Check THIS link to newegg.com for all NForce2 (IGP) mobos. Have fun

here's the correct link to Newegg's nforce2 IGP motherboards.

i have a MSI K7N2-ISLR nforce2 IGP motherboard ($117 shipped @ Newegg) that i would definitely recommend to the average user. it comes with a lot of features, including tv-out and Soundstorm (which is why i use it for my HTPC). it also has very user friendly software, such as driver and BIOS updates in WinXP. doesn't overclock as well as my Asus A7N8X-Deluxe, but i doubt your dad will care.

I tried that link too, it doesnt work...best I could do is in my post.

 

[Bonesdad]

Originally posted by: crapito

Originally posted by: Bonesdad
Check THIS link to newegg.com for all NForce2 (IGP) mobos. Have fun

here's the correct link to Newegg's nforce2 IGP motherboards.

i have a MSI K7N2-ISLR nforce2 IGP motherboard ($117 shipped @ Newegg) that i would definitely recommend to the average user. it comes with a lot of features, including tv-out and Soundstorm (which is why i use it for my HTPC). it also has very user friendly software, such as driver and BIOS updates in WinXP. doesn't overclock as well as my Asus A7N8X-Deluxe, but i doubt your dad will care.

I tried that link too, it doesnt work...best I could do is in my post.

 

[theplanb]

thanks guys. I can't order from newagg.. because I live in oz
btw.. how am I supposed to decide if everyone recommends different board? lol
well, nothing against the micro atx.. just I feel.. somehow restricted with 2 dimm and 3 pci.. though I know that is enough (just)..
too many choices.. btw, what's sound storm and why is it related to firewire??
Actually, I don't mind tv-out at all. I think it's nice feature.
Oh yeah and I can't have a fan running on a mobo either. ^^

 

[crapito]

ok, here's the best way to check Newegg for nforce2 IGP motherboards: start here, select "North Bridge Chipset" as nVidia nForce2 (IGP), then hit "SEARCH". sorry 'bout my other link...

Originally posted by: theplanb
thanks guys. I can't order from newagg.. because I live in oz

whether you order from Newegg or not, it's a good place to search for parts due to user reviews, pictures, and selection. surfing the site is a great way to comparison shop.

well, nothing against the micro atx.. just I feel.. somehow restricted with 2 dimm and 3 pci.. though I know that is enough (just)..

personally, i don't own a micro atx, and never had... but the resticted argument is so 1998... i currently use 2 add-on cards on my main computer, a Radeon 9800 Pro and a tv-tuner card, and none on my HTPC, cause everything is built in (ie sound, video, tv-out, networking). also, 2 DIMM slots allow a max of 2GB RAM on nforce2 motherboards, so that is hardly restricting... with that said, i still wouldn't buy one over a full-size atx board as the bigger ones general have better overclocking features.

btw, what's sound storm and why is it related to firewire??

Soundstorm is nvidia's digital on-board audio that decodes a 2 channel input into 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. basically, it's the reason i bought my 2 nforce2 motherboards... it has nothing to do with firewire, which is a connection protocol kinda like USB2, aside from most boards that have Soundstorm come with firewire as both features are a part of the MCP-T southbridge.

Oh yeah and I can't have a fan running on a mobo either.

why? noise?

bottomline: pick features, cause all nforce2 motherboards perform closely enough to call them even on speed.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

excellent post crapito I would like to add to this comment however

bottomline: pick features, cause all nforce2 motherboards perform closely enough to call them even on speed.

I agree but with the exception that when it comes to overclocking with IGP chipset the boards with vdd adjustment in the bios are head&shoulders above those without it.

 

[RideFree]

I have implemented 2 MSI K7N2-ISLR nforce2 IGPs and they worked about as well as can be expected. I doubt that you will be disappointed, however, as for Dad, that is another question.

Now for the rest of your ?s...sound storm and why is it related to firewire??

Ans: They are both implemented on the same MCP-T chip on the M/B.

Oh yeah and I can't have a fan running on a mobo either

You'll be SOL without at least a CPU cooler as those AMDs get pretty toasty. And, unless you are going to 1. water cooling or 2. a thermoelectric device like Peltier, your options are rather limited.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: RideFree
I have implemented 2 MSI K7N2-ISLR nforce2 IGPs and they worked about as well as can be expected. I doubt that you will be disappointed, however, as for Dad, that is another question.

Now for the rest of your ?s...sound storm and why is it related to firewire??

Ans: They are both implemented on the same MCP-T chip on the M/B.

Oh yeah and I can't have a fan running on a mobo either

You'll be SOL without at least a CPU cooler as those AMDs get pretty toasty. And, unless you are going to 1. water cooling or 2. a thermoelectric device like Peltier, your options are rather limited.

Yes, definitely a CPU fan. The northbridge might be ok with a heatsink, but it'll have to be something like this or this, especially since there's a videocard crammed in there too (or is that integrated in the southbridge?). And you'll still need some case ventilation. Modern components put out a lot of heat.
Something like an Enermax Whisper fan, a Panaflo, or an NMB fan will provide some airflow, while keeping noise down.
A peltier won't solve anything either, except moving heat. It still needs a fan to dissipate the heat being transferred, otherwise it'll fry itself. At least it would die doing what it loved.

 

[SexyLady]

the correct version is MSI-6570-ILSR-K7N2G-Delta and aussie do stock it as far as i can find out
it has your requirements, and i run the same version only i opted not to have the G version as i run a MSI-FX5600-VTDR vid card, i have made more than one machine with this board and both machines rock!!!

 

[RideFree]

Gonna be hard operating the power supply without a fan, also.

 

[theplanb]

noonno I meant no fan on the board itself.. I'd like to keep it as quiet as possible.
Shame no board comes with dvi out though..
I think MSI one sounds all right. And it's in red too thanks guys